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August 25, 2003
CDC NOTIFIES READERS ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TIMING OF INFLUENZA
VACCINATION IN THE 2003-04 INFLUENZA SEASON

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published "Notice to
Readers: Supplemental Recommendations About the Timing of Influenza
Vaccination, 2003-04 Season" in the August 22 issue of "Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report." The notice is reprinted below with the exception
of references.

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In response to delays in production and distribution of influenza vaccine
during 2000, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
recommended that first-available supplies of vaccine be administered
to persons at increased risk for complications from influenza and to
health-care workers. The committee also recommended that mass vaccination
campaigns for the 2000-01 season be delayed until the availability of
supply was assured. ACIP issued similar recommendations for the 2001-02
influenza season and has incorporated this prioritization into its annual
influenza recommendations.

To assist vaccinators in determining if administration of influenza vaccine
should be prioritized because of anticipated delays or shortages, ACIP
requested that CDC develop a process to assess the projected vaccine supply
in advance of the influenza vaccination season. Each year, this process will
be conducted collaboratively by CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and
the manufacturers who produce influenza vaccine.

On August 11, 2003, CDC determined that vaccine production for the 2003-04
influenza season is proceeding satisfactorily and that projected production
and distribution schedules will allow for sufficient supply of influenza
vaccine during October and November. Therefore, influenza vaccination can
proceed for all high-risk and healthy persons, individually and through mass
campaigns, as soon as vaccine is available.

HOW TO OBTAIN A FREE ELECTRONIC SUBSCRIPTION TO THE MMWR:
To obtain a free electronic subscription to the "Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report" (MMWR), visit CDC's MMWR website at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr Select
"Free Subscription" from the menu at the left of the screen. Once you have
submitted the required information, weekly issues of the MMWR and all new
ACIP statements (published as MMWR's "Recommendations and Reports") will
arrive automatically by email.
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The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) recently expanded its web content on
State Mandates on Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. IAC now has
information on hepatitis B prevention mandates for colleges and universities
and on influenza and pneumococcal mandates for residents in long-term care
facilities.

HEPATITIS B MANDATES
Twelve states require colleges and universities to make sure students are
educated about hepatitis B or are vaccinated against it. IAC recently
created a table summarizing this information and a map depicting it
visually.

INFLUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL MANDATES
Twenty-two states require residents in long-term care facilities to be
vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal disease or require facilities
to offer to vaccinate residents. IAC recently created a table summarizing
this information and a map depicting it visually.

ADDITIONAL MAPS
IAC also enhanced its vaccine mandate web pages with additional maps. The
varicella, hepatitis A, and meningococcal mandate pages now have maps
showing which states require education about or immunization against these
diseases. We've also developed a map indicating which states authorize
pharmacists to vaccinate.

We depend on our readers to help us stay informed and to ensure our website
contains the most current and accurate information available. Please let us
know by email at admin@immunize.org
when any changes occur in your state.
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August 25, 2003
GET READY FOR INFLUENZA VACCINATION SEASON WITH THE HELP OF IAC'S ADULT
IMMUNIZATION RECORD CARDS

With influenza vaccination season right around the corner, busy health
professionals need an easy way to educate their adult patients about adult
immunization. The Adult Immunization Record Card is an inexpensive
educational tool and a foolproof way to help patients keep track of their
vaccination status.

Developed by the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC), the card lists seven
vaccines that all adults or adults with certain medical conditions should
receive. Health professionals can use the card during patient visits to
discuss a patient's vaccination status with them. At the end of the visit,
give the card to the patient and encourage them to refer to it to find out
when they're due for their next Td booster, a pneumococcal vaccine dose, or
other vaccination.

Since introducing Adult Immunization Record Cards in May 2002, IAC has
shipped more than a million cards to health care providers across the United
States. Health professionals nationwide have found the card invaluable for
educating patients that immunization is a lifelong process and for giving
patients the means to keep a lifetime record of their immunization status.

Printed on smudge-proof, rip-proof, waterproof paper, the card comes
pre-folded to fit in a wallet. Its bright, canary-yellow color makes it easy
to spot among credit cards and other items.

The cost for one 250-count box is $25; two boxes (500 cards), $45; three
boxes (750 cards), $60; four boxes (1,000 cards), $70. Additional
pricing for larger quantities can be found on the online order form (see
link below).

To view a color image of IAC's Adult Immunization Record Card, go to:http://www.immunize.org/adultizcards/pictures.htm

To order IAC's Adult Immunization Record Cards online (including online with
a purchase order), go to:https://www.immunize.org/adultizcards

To print an order form to send with payment information by fax or mail, go
to:https://www.immunize.org/adultizcards/izorder.pdf

If you have questions about IAC's Adult Immunization Record Card, call us at
(651) 647-9009, or email us at
admin@immunize.org
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As many immunization providers know, when the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) revises a VIS, it revises only the English-language
version. Subsequently, VISs are translated by some state health departments
and other individuals on a voluntary basis. IAC posts these translations on
its website as soon as they're available.

Because translations are done voluntarily, some revised English-language
VISs are not translated. IAC retains the outdated translation on the VIS
section of its website and notes that the translation is "not current." This
alerts health professionals that the translation does not reflect CDC's most
recent revision.

To make it possible for immunization providers to give non-English speaking
patients/parents the most current information, IAC has now written text
titled "Changes to Previously Published VISs." It informs health
professionals of exactly how certain current VISs differ from their
predecessors.

Organized by vaccine, the new text details the most recent changes made to
VISs for which IAC does not have current translations. Following are the
VISs that fit this description: anthrax, diphtheria-tetanus-acellular
pertussis, hepatitis B, influenza, measles-mumps-rubella, meningococcal, and
pneumococcal conjugate.

(Note: All translated VISs are current on IAC's VIS web page for the
following vaccines: chickenpox, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis A,
inactivated polio, pneumococcal polysaccharide, smallpox, and
tetanus-diphtheria. The yellow fever VIS is available in English only.)

For more information about the use of VISs, and for VISs in a total of 28
languages, visit IAC's VIS web page at http://www.immunize.org/vis
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August 25, 2003
CDC REPORTS ON VACCINATION COVERAGE OF CHILDREN ENTERING
U.S. SCHOOLS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published
"Vaccination Coverage Among Children Entering School--United
States, 2002-03 School Year" in the August 22 issue of
"Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report." A summary made
available to the press is reprinted below in its entirety.

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In the United States, immunization coverage of children entering
school remains high and is approaching or exceeding 2010
objectives of greater than 95% in most states.

Immunization programs in the United States monitor the
vaccination status of children entering school each year. When
unvaccinated children are identified, the programs and schools
work with parents to help them get their children up-to-date on
the vaccines required by law. As a result of this process,
states are making significant progress toward meeting Healthy
People 2010 objectives related to immunization. Currently,
coverage for all vaccines except Hepatitis B (Hep B) was
reported to be 95% or greater in 29 states and 90% or greater in
45 states. Only thirty-nine states require Hep B vaccines before
school entry. Among those states reporting on Hep B, the
average coverage was 96%.

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August 25, 2003
NEW: 2003-04 EDITION OF CDC'S "HEALTH INFORMATION FOR
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL" (THE YELLOW BOOK) NOW AVAILABLE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published
"Notice to Readers: Release of CDC's Yellow Book" in the
August 22 issue of "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report."
The notice is reprinted below in its entirety.

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CDC has released the 2003-2004 edition of Health Information for
International Travel (The Yellow Book). The edition contains a
new chapter focusing on recommendations for children; new
recommendations for malaria chemoprophylaxis; expanded text on
injury during travel, motion sickness, altitude sickness, and
travelers with disabilities; changes in vaccine recommendations;
changes in recommendations for insect repellent use; new text on
scuba diving safety and high-risk travelers; and improved and
colorized maps and expanded indexing.

The Yellow Book will be available on CD-ROM later this year. The
book can be obtained by telephone, (877) 252-1200, or at http://bookstore.phf.org